ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 Harrison-Morton Middle School\u2019s new principal was placed on paid administrative leave indefinitely following an incident over the weekend in Allentown.<\/p>\n
The incident involving Stephanie Williams is being investigated by police, according to the Allentown School District\u2019s solicitor.<\/p>\n
Attorney Jeffrey Sultanik said Sunday afternoon that, to the best of his knowledge, Williams had \u201cnot been arrested yet.\u201d <\/p>\n
Sultanik said that because the police had not yet issued a report, he could not comment on the specifics of the incident.<\/p>\n
Sultanik said he was informed of the incident Saturday, which is when he \u201cbelieves\u201d it occurred. <\/p>\n
According to a district message sent to parents and staff, Williams\u2019 leave was effective as of Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident that he will provide strong leadership and support to students, staff and families in the interim.”<\/p>\n
ASD message to parents and staff<\/p>\n
Arcelius Brickhouse, the district\u2019s executive director of instructional leadership, will serve as acting principal until further notice, according to Sultanik and the district message.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are confident that he will provide strong leadership and support to students, staff and families in the interim,\u201d the district message states.<\/p>\n
Williams was hired by ASD in July at a salary of $140,000.<\/p>\n
She came to HMMS with more than 15 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in Philadelphia, according to a district news release. <\/p>\n
Before joining ASD, she was the principal of Belmont Charter Middle School in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Williams is the third leader Harrison-Morton has had in the past year. The two most recent principals were serving in an acting capacity.<\/p>\n
Videos spread on social media<\/p>\n
Following the news of Williams\u2019 leave, videos began circulating on social media Sunday that showed a woman who appears to be Williams at a park.<\/p>\n
The woman in the videos \u2014 which ranged in time from 24 to 85 seconds \u2014 can be seen acting erratically while interacting with a group of youths at what appears to be a picnic event.<\/p>\n
In one video, the woman, who is wearing a name tag that reads, \u201cStephanie,\u201d walks up to the camera and says, \u201cY\u2019all be thinking I\u2019m crazy, but I\u2019m the smartest person in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n
She then proceeds to roll around on the ground while laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis level of uncertainty is, of course, very stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Harrison-Morton staff member<\/p>\n
In another video, the woman jogs toward the camera as the person recording can be heard saying, \u201cI think our principal [is] on drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman then says, \u201cY\u2019all are brilliant,\u201d while pointing to the youths. She then proceeds to make strange faces, laugh and whip her hair around. <\/p>\n
At one point, she says, \u201cBaby, you don\u2019t even know what I just discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two people who are familiar with Williams said it was her in the videos.<\/p>\n
One Harrison-Morton staff member told LehighValleyNews.com that Williams seemed \u201cuncharacteristically stressed out\u201d on Friday and told staff she was sick with a cold.<\/p>\n
The staff member spoke with LehighValleyNews.com on the condition of anonymity because they\u2019re not authorized by the district to speak with reporters.<\/p>\n
The staff member said that colleagues were talking about Williams\u2019 situation over the weekend and group chats were filled with \u201cgallows humor\u201d about yet another leadership transition at Harrison-Morton.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, what else are you going to do?\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
The staff member also said, \u201cThis level of uncertainty is, of course, very stressful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concerns about adjusting to another leader<\/p>\n
Williams had met with staff members individually to learn about their frustrations from the past year of leadership changes and was working with those concerns in mind, the staff member said.<\/p>\n
Given Williams’ absence moving forward, the staff member said they anticipate difficulty with fielding questions from students about why their new principal is already gone for the time being.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe district keeping the teachers in the dark while the community knows everything going on \u2014 it\u2019s frustrating,\u201d the staff member said.<\/p>\n
With Brickhouse taking over as acting principal, the staff member also said they are concerned they and their colleagues will be shown \u201cno grace\u201d as they navigate the uncertainty and new priorities that come with a different leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact of the matter is they have to go into the classroom and educate kids and keep them safe.”<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Sultanik, ASD’s solicitor<\/p>\n
As cause for their concerns, the staff member pointed to their experience last spring when Harrison-Morton students and staff had classes at temporary sites across Allentown<\/a>. <\/p>\n